Carole Madeley, certified respiratory educator

During a career in respiratory therapy spanning more than three decades, Carole Madeley has seen lung disease in all its many forms while working tirelessly to improve the lives of Ontarians living with respiratory illness. Carole’s broad knowledge and experience as a practitioner, teacher and administrator make her the ideal person to lead the delivery of patient support, provider and public education programs at the Ontario Lung Association.

As the Association’s Director of Respiratory Health Programs, Carole is responsible for the delivery of several asthma and COPD programs. She also makes important contributions to special projects such as the Fitness for Breath exercise maintenance program, the Breathe asthma self-management app and the Value Demonstrating Initiative for COPD.

Working out of the provincial office in Toronto, Carole leads a dedicated team of 10 Registered Respiratory Therapists (seven in Toronto and three working out the Association’s Ottawa Respiratory Health Centre.

“I graduated as an RRT in 1981,” says Carole, “and then worked in hospitals for 27 years. During that time, I developed and implemented a comprehensive pulmonary rehabilitation program and also gained experience in home care, became a certified respiratory educator and completed my Masters. All of my experiences were important preparation for my current role. I had the chance to see lung disease from the perspective of the patient, the provider, the teacher and the researcher. It is an overriding commitment to the needs of patients that drives everything we do at the Ontario Lung Association.”